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Think Big Lead Now Young Women’s National Leadership Program is a comprehensive bilingual leadership program that includes online learning sessions and talks, self-study, peer mentorship and support, and civic engagement activities along with a three-day immersive training and networking summit.

Grounded in intersectional feminism and social justice, this program has been designed to equip young women with the knowledge and skills to lead and be change-makers in their communities and beyond.

YWCA Canada works on the belief that the best method for strengthening young women’s leadership is to provide participants with new experiences that allow them to stretch beyond their comfort level, enhance their skills through practice and enable them to reflect on the experience. Young leaders will develop an understanding of the nature of social change and their capacity to effect change through their actions and work ahead to achieve through the program components described below.

PROGRAM SPEAKERS, LEADERS & MENTORS

Summit Keynote Speaker: Laurin Liu

Laurin Liu was elected a Member of Parliament representing the riding of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, serving from 2011-2015. She is the youngest woman to be elected Member of Parliament in Canada, and served as Official Opposition deputy critic for the Environment, deputy critic for Science and Technology and deputy critic for International Trade. She tabled multiple bills and a motion on subjects including precarious work, poverty, consumer protections and women’s health.

E-LEARNING PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS

Through online live and pre-recorded sessions, participants will have the opportunity to build skills, connect inspirational women leaders and network with one another. Program participants will reflect on strengths, abilities, values and identify the leader they want to become.

PEER MENTORSHIP & SUPPORT

“If I don’t shine, you don’t shine” is the foundation of this aspect of the program. Working in small groups supported by a community leader or group mentor, participants will motivate and support one another in further advancing leadership skills and career opportunities while developing a group project, event or initiative together. Participants will be matched into groups by a committee of program peers, based on geography and/or area of interest.

3-day Immersive Leadership Training Summit

March 8 to 11, 2018 in Muskoka, Ontario

Young leaders will mark International Women’s Day in an amazing way! Connect with over 100 other young women from every province and territory in an idyllic and secluded lakefront camp retreat north of Toronto.

Young Women’s Community Action Days

Peer Mentor and Support Groups take what they’ve learned and put it into action by planning an event, action or initiative in the community or online that moves the needle forward on an issue that they care about. The purpose of these YWCA Days activities is to encourage civic engagement and community-building on an issue of interest to each group.

PROGRAM FEES

$500

Registration costs for the full leadership program include access to the e-learning webinars, group mentoring and support, and travel, shared accommodation and meals to attend the training summit at YMCA Geneva Park in March 2018.

$750

Registration costs for the full leadership program include access to the e-learning webinars, group mentoring and support, and travel, private accommodation and meals to attend the training summit at YMCA Geneva Park in March 2018.

ACCESSIBILITY

YWCA Canada is committed to ensuring a fully accessible program. As such the following considerations have been made:

All program components and materials are offered in English and French

E-learning modules will be available for download

The training venue is accessible for those with facing mobility challenges

Childcare will be available at the training summit for those with young children

A local Elder will be onsite and available throughout the summit

A designated quiet space and counsellors will be onsite for the training summit

Further information regarding available accessibility measures will be shared with participants once selected.

Having counsellors there took away my anxiety. Thank you for letting me be a part of something so great! I'm giving my first speech on Monday about educators with mental health. I would have never had the courage to do this without the support of the other women I met there.